Free writing
Encyclopedia
Free writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting
technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, grammar, or topic. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose
writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Free writing is not the same as automatic writing
.
Unlike brainstorming
where ideas are simply listed, in freewriting one writes sentences to form a paragraph about whatever comes to mind.
advanced freewriting in his book Writing Without Teachers (1975), and it has been popularized by Julia Cameron
through her book The Artist's Way (1992).
Natalie Goldberg
principles to develop freewriting encouraged in undergraduate and creative writing programs. Writing practice encourages the writer to be aware of their thoughts throughout the writing practice, and may be an end unto itself, rather than a means to produce a more polished piece.
Freewriting is often done on a daily basis as a part of the writer's daily routine. Also, students in many writing courses are assigned to do such daily writing exercises.
say it, the mental wellspring may be blocked by
apathy, self-criticism, resentment, anxiety about
deadlines, fear of failure or censure, or other
forms of resistance. The accepted rules of free-writing
enable a writer to build up enough momentum to
blast past blocks into uninhibited flow, the concept outlined by writing teachers such as Louise Dunlap, Peter Elbow
, and Natalie Goldberg
.
Free-writing is all about loosening and limbering the thought process, not about a product or a performance for a student or a writer.
children. There is no common consensus on the acceptance of this technique.
Prewriting
Prewriting is the first stage of the writing process, typically followed by drafting, revision, editing and publishing.Elements of prewriting may include planning, research, outlining, diagramming, storyboarding or clustering .-Motivation and audience awareness:Prewriting usually begins with...
technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, grammar, or topic. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose
Prose
Prose is the most typical form of written language, applying ordinary grammatical structure and natural flow of speech rather than rhythmic structure...
writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Free writing is not the same as automatic writing
Automatic writing
Automatic writing or psychography is writing which the writer states to be produced from a subconscious and/or spiritual source without conscious awareness of the content.-History:...
.
Unlike brainstorming
Brainstorming
Brainstorming is a group creativity technique by which a group tries to find a solution for a specific problem by gathering a list of ideas spontaneously contributed by its members...
where ideas are simply listed, in freewriting one writes sentences to form a paragraph about whatever comes to mind.
History
Peter ElbowPeter Elbow
Peter Elbow is currently a Professor of English Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where he also directed the Writing Program from 1996 until 2000...
advanced freewriting in his book Writing Without Teachers (1975), and it has been popularized by Julia Cameron
Julia Cameron
Julia B. Cameron is an American teacher, author, artist, poet, playwright, novelist, filmmaker, composer, and journalist. She is perhaps most famous for her book The Artist's Way...
through her book The Artist's Way (1992).
Natalie Goldberg
Natalie Goldberg
Natalie Goldberg is an American author. She is best known for a series of books which explore writing as Zen practice. Goldberg lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.-Books:*Chicken and in Love , ISBN 978-0930100049...
principles to develop freewriting encouraged in undergraduate and creative writing programs. Writing practice encourages the writer to be aware of their thoughts throughout the writing practice, and may be an end unto itself, rather than a means to produce a more polished piece.
Technique
The technique involves continuous writing, usually for a predetermined period of time (often five, ten, or fifteen minutes). The writer writes without regard to spelling, grammar, etc., and makes no corrections. If the writer reaches a point where they can't think of anything to write, they write that they can't think of anything, until they find another line of thought. The writer freely strays off topic, letting thoughts lead where they may. At times, a writer may also do a focused freewrite, letting a chosen topic structure their thoughts. Expanding from this topic, the thoughts may stray to make connections and create more abstract views on the topic. This technique helps a writer explore a particular subject before putting ideas into a more basic context.Freewriting is often done on a daily basis as a part of the writer's daily routine. Also, students in many writing courses are assigned to do such daily writing exercises.
Definition
Free writing is based on a presumption that, while everybody has something to say and the ability tosay it, the mental wellspring may be blocked by
apathy, self-criticism, resentment, anxiety about
deadlines, fear of failure or censure, or other
forms of resistance. The accepted rules of free-writing
enable a writer to build up enough momentum to
blast past blocks into uninhibited flow, the concept outlined by writing teachers such as Louise Dunlap, Peter Elbow
Peter Elbow
Peter Elbow is currently a Professor of English Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where he also directed the Writing Program from 1996 until 2000...
, and Natalie Goldberg
Natalie Goldberg
Natalie Goldberg is an American author. She is best known for a series of books which explore writing as Zen practice. Goldberg lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.-Books:*Chicken and in Love , ISBN 978-0930100049...
.
Free-writing is all about loosening and limbering the thought process, not about a product or a performance for a student or a writer.
Use in education
Often free-writing workshops focus on self-expression, and are sometimes even used in teaching to elementary schoolElementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
children. There is no common consensus on the acceptance of this technique.
Rules
Here are the essential rules that are often formulated for the beginners or students, often a paraphrase of Natalie Goldberg's "Rules for Free Writing," often referred as Natalie Goldberg's first four rules of writing:- Give yourself a time limit. Write for one or ten or twenty minutes, and then stop.
- Keep your hand moving until the time is up. Do not pause to stare into space or to read what you've written. Write quickly but not in a hurry.
- Pay no attention to grammar, spelling, punctuation, neatness, or style. Nobody else needs to read what you produce here. The correctness and quality of what you write do not matter; the act of writing does.
- If you get off the topic or run out of ideas, keep writing anyway. If necessary, write nonsense or whatever comes into your head, or simply scribble: anything to keep the hand moving.
- If you feel bored or uncomfortable as you're writing, ask yourself what's bothering you and write about that.
- When the time is up, look over what you've written, and mark passages that contain ideas or phrases that might be worth keeping or elaborating on in a subsequent free-writing session.
External links
- Bloknot bez not - Russian free-writing web site
- 750 words, a web site dedicated to freely writing about three pages a day
- Re:verse Verse - A blog featuring user-submitted free-writing content
- nataliegoldberg.com
- Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg, An On Writing Reader's Treasury Review by Bobby Matherne
- Single Celled Organisms - Writer's Block: The Prokaryote Plague